Gloucester City Skittles
Nine pins · Seven divisions
Admin Portal
Week 23 Round-Up: Cobblers Extend Lead at the Summit, Oval Ball Stun Hare & Hounds with Season-High 840
22 March 2026

Thursday 6 March 2026

The title race took another twist in Week 23 as league leaders Cobblers ground out a maximum eight-point haul away at Tuffley Robins, while second-placed R.G.H.O.C kept pace with a commanding victory over a stuttering Matson Wolfhounds side. Elsewhere, Oval Ball S.C posted a stunning 840 — the highest team score in either division this week — to blow away bottom side Hare & Hounds, and Railway racked up 790 to hammer St James AllStars. In Division 1, runaway leaders Avenue Loungers made it five consecutive maximum hauls, St James Extras matched them stride for stride, and Willows fired an 803 to keep their promotion hopes alive. Three players hit the magical ton this week — Stephen Brown for Tuffley Robins in the Premier, and Richard Stevens (Willows) and Albert Dixon (Rugger Sports) in Division 1.

Premier Division

St James AllStars 659 (0pts) vs Railway 790 (8pts) A bruising night for mid-table St James AllStars (8th, 102pts), who were blown away by a resurgent Railway (9th, 100pts) side. The visitors seized control from the off, leading 383–319 at the half before extending their advantage in the second stanza with a fine 407 to finish 131 pins clear. Patrick Collins led the charge for Railway with a superb 97. The AllStars have now picked up just 14 points from their last five outings and will be looking nervously over their shoulders at the chasing pack. For Railway, this was a second consecutive maximum and a result that pulls them to within two points of their opponents.

Hare & Hounds 805 (2pts) vs Oval Ball S.C 840 (6pts) The highest Premier Division team score of the week belonged to Oval Ball S.C (14th, 92pts), who produced a magnificent 840 to claim six points away at bottom club Hare & Hounds (16th, 67pts). Oval Ball were devastating in the first half, racking up 446 to establish a 58-pin lead, and although the hosts rallied gamely with a 417 second half — earning two bonus points in the process and featuring a fine 98 from Jordan Henderson — it wasn't nearly enough to close the gap. Hare & Hounds actually posted a very respectable 805 themselves but found themselves on the wrong end of a season-high total. On another night, that 805 wins comfortably — this was simply a case of running into a side in sensational form. Oval Ball have now claimed 22 points from their last five matches and are beginning to pull clear of trouble, while the Hounds remain rooted to the bottom and looking increasingly in need of a miracle.

Famous Stampers 694 (2pts) vs Lion Cubs 740 (6pts) Lion Cubs (6th, 108pts) continued their fine recent run with a comfortable six-point victory over Famous Stampers (12th, 95pts). The Cubs led 374–320 at the interval and managed the second half efficiently with 366, never looking in danger despite a much-improved 374 from the hosts after the break. The Stampers' two bonus points offer little consolation as they sit just two points above the bottom half congestion. Lion Cubs have now accumulated an impressive 26 points from their last five outings and are firmly in the hunt for a top-four finish with a game in hand on several rivals.

The Jets 729 (0pts) vs Impractical Jokers 748 (8pts) This was the tightest contest of the Premier evening, with just 19 pins separating the sides at the final count. Impractical Jokers (11th, 96pts) edged ahead 400–388 at the break, and although both teams dipped in the second half, the Jokers held their nerve to take a full maximum. The Jets (13th, 93pts) will rue a disappointing 341 second-half collapse having been well in the contest at the interval. The Jokers have been in erratic form — winning maximums one week and blanking the next — but this result lifts them three points clear of the relegation places. The Jets, now winless in two, remain dangerously placed with a game in hand.

R.G.H.O.C 793 (8pts) vs Matson Wolfhounds 719 (0pts) Second-placed R.G.H.O.C (2nd, 126pts) delivered a powerful statement with an eight-point demolition of third-placed Matson Wolfhounds (3rd, 122pts) in a crucial top-of-the-table clash. The hosts were electric in the opening half, piling up 422 to lead by 55 pins, and although both sides fell away after the break, the damage was already done. Albert Collins was outstanding with 99, ably supported by Arthur Hunt on 97, as R.G.H.O.C moved to within six points of leaders Cobblers with a game in hand. For the Wolfhounds, this was a fourth match without a maximum — they've scraped just six points from their last five — and the title challenge that looked so promising a month ago is in serious danger of fizzling out.

Painswick Ultras 733 (2pts) vs Redmans Ten 776 (6pts) A tale of two halves at Painswick, where the Ultras (10th, 98pts) blazed into a 418–352 first-half lead only to produce a dismal 315 after the break — the lowest single-half score of the Premier week. Redmans Ten (5th, 110pts) sensed blood, storming back with a superb 424 second half to overturn a 66-pin deficit and claim six points. A 109-pin swing between halves tells the story of Painswick's evening. The Ultras at least salvaged two bonus points, but this second-half collapse will sting given their otherwise excellent recent form of 26 points from their last five. Redmans Ten continue their remarkable surge — 30 points from five matches — and are now firmly in the top-five conversation.

Cobblers 785 (8pts) vs Tuffley Robins 760 (0pts) @ Tuffley Community Centre League leaders Cobblers (1st, 132pts) ground out another maximum away from home against a Tuffley Robins (15th, 81pts) side who gave them a real contest. The Robins actually shaded the first half 387–394 — wait, it was the Cobblers who held a slender 394–387 advantage at the interval — and the second half was even tighter, with the leaders edging it 391–373 to finish 25 pins to the good. The top Premier individual scorer of the week was Tuffley's Stephen Brown, who struck a magnificent 100 in a losing cause. That's now a sensational 36 points from five matches for the Cobblers, who are building an ominous head of steam at the top. Tuffley Robins, winless in four, remain deep in relegation trouble, 14 points adrift of safety.

Maisemore Hornets 726 (0pts) vs Fabulous Baker Boys 803 (8pts) @ St James Club Fabulous Baker Boys (7th, 104pts) rolled into the St James Club and produced a clinical 803 to claim all eight points from fourth-placed Maisemore Hornets (4th, 114pts). The Baker Boys set the tone with a blistering 422 first half — matching R.G.H.O.C for the joint-highest opening stanza in the Premier — and although they eased slightly to 381 after the break, it was more than enough. Jose Williams led the way with a fine 97. The Hornets were below par throughout and this blank sees them slip ten points behind the leaders having played the same number of matches. The Baker Boys, meanwhile, have now banked 28 points from their last five and are motoring up the table.

Division 1

Exiles S.C 708 (0pts) vs St James Extras 818 (8pts) Bottom-half Exiles S.C (16th, 77pts) had no answer to a rampant St James Extras (2nd, 138pts) side who racked up a formidable 818 — the highest Division 1 team score of the week. The visitors were in cruise control from the start, leading 390–362 at the break before accelerating to a devastating 428 second half. Samuel Price starred with a classy 98. The Extras have now claimed a remarkable 38 points from their last five matches — matching leaders Avenue Loungers stride for stride — and sit 13 points back with a game in hand on several rivals. The Exiles, by contrast, have managed just 12 points from five and look increasingly stranded at the foot of the table.

Indians 760 (0pts) vs Avenue Loungers 777 (8pts) Division 1 leaders Avenue Loungers (1st, 151pts) made it five consecutive maximum hauls with a hard-fought eight-point victory over mid-table Indians (6th, 107pts). The Loungers edged the first half 399–395 in a fiercely tight opening before pulling away slightly with 378 to the Indians' 365 after the break. The final margin of just 17 pins suggests this was closer than the scoreline implies, but the Loungers' relentless consistency — 38 points from five — is the hallmark of champions. The Indians will feel this was one that got away.

Hip Hips 797 (8pts) vs Kingpins 701 (0pts) Lower-half Hip Hips (11th, 87pts) produced their best performance in weeks with a commanding 797 to claim a maximum against mid-table Kingpins (9th, 98pts). The hosts were dominant from the start, racing to a 413–322 first-half lead — a 91-pin gap that was never going to be bridged. The Kingpins rallied with 379 in the second half but the damage was done. This was a welcome return to form for Hip Hips after a patchy run, while the Kingpins' inconsistency continues — they've alternated between maximums and blanks over their last five outings.

Arcadians 695 (0pts) vs Walls Monkeys 780 (8pts) Walls Monkeys (4th, 115pts) steamrollered a struggling Arcadians (8th, 101pts) side with a polished 780. A blistering 426 first half — the highest single-half score in Division 1 this week — set the tone, and although the Monkeys dipped to 354 after the interval, it mattered little against opponents who mustered just 695. Justin White was magnificent with 99, backed by Bruce Brown on 97. The Arcadians have now drawn a blank in five of their last six outings and are sliding towards the bottom half at an alarming rate. The Monkeys, with 26 points from five, are putting real pressure on third-placed Willows.

Valiants 774 (8pts) vs Killer Instinct 708 (0pts) A vital maximum for Valiants (13th, 85pts), who came from behind to topple Killer Instinct (7th, 103pts) by 66 pins. The Valiants trailed 362–347 at the break but produced a stunning 412 second half — the second-best single stanza in Division 1 this week — while Killer Instinct could only manage 361 in reply. A 65-pin swing after the interval turned this match on its head. It's a first maximum in some time for the Valiants and a result that gives them a lifeline in the lower reaches. For Killer Instinct, who had won four maximums on the bounce before this, it's a jarring return to earth.

Biji's 744 (2pts) vs Holmleigh Rangers 749 (6pts) The closest match of the entire week in either division saw just five pins separate Biji's (12th, 86pts) and Holmleigh Rangers (15th, 80pts). Biji's looked comfortable at the break, leading 388–337 by 51 pins, but Holmleigh Rangers produced a remarkable second-half comeback — blitzing 412 to the hosts' 356 to overhaul the deficit and snatch six points. That's a 107-pin swing between halves, and the kind of fightback that can define a season. The Rangers have now picked up 22 points from their last five and are beginning to claw their way out of danger. Biji's will be devastated to let this one slip.

Willows 803 (8pts) vs Slingers 714 (0pts) Third-placed Willows (3rd, 118pts) matched St James Extras with a superb 803 of their own to claim maximum points against Slingers (10th, 92pts). After a steady 370–355 first half, the Willows exploded with a sensational 433 second half — the single highest stanza across both divisions this week — to blow the match wide open. Richard Stevens was the star, smashing a brilliant 100 to share the weekly individual honour. The Slingers were outclassed after the interval and have now slipped into the bottom half. The Willows have won 22 points from five and remain firmly in the promotion picture, three points ahead of Walls Monkeys.

Rockets 718 (0pts) vs Rugger Sports 762 (8pts) Rugger Sports (5th, 111pts) continued their resurgence with a solid eight-point haul at struggling Rockets (14th, 83pts). The visitors led 376–339 at the interval and managed the second half comfortably, 386 to 379, to win by 44 pins. Albert Dixon fired a stunning 100 for Rugger Sports — one of three centurions across both divisions this week. The Rockets have now gone five matches without a maximum, collecting a pitiful two points, and are sliding towards real trouble at the wrong end of the table.

Week 23 at a Glance

  • Highest team score: Oval Ball S.C — 840 (Premier Division)
  • Top individual score: Stephen Brown (Tuffley Robins), Richard Stevens (Willows), Albert Dixon (Rugger Sports) — 100 each
  • Match of the week: Biji's 744 vs Holmleigh Rangers 749 — separated by just five pins after a stunning 107-pin second-half swing saw the Rangers overturn a 51-pin deficit
  • Biggest winning margin (Premier): Railway beat St James AllStars by 131 pins
  • Biggest winning margin (Division 1): St James Extras beat Exiles S.C by 110 pins